Strip metal article making machine



March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKA 3,171,463

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet1 FIG. I

INVENTOR' SIDNEY Z. REHK ATTORNEY March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKA 3, 71,46

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet2 NVENTOR.

BY /V MW ATTORNEY I SIDNEY Z. REHKA March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKA 3,171,453

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet3 FIG.

FIG. I48

filth? I ATTORNEY INVENTOR. SIDNEY z. REHKA March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKASTRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 28,1962 INVENTOR. SIDNEY Z. REHKA ymgd Zia/2 1 ATTQRNEY March 2, 1965 s. z.REHKA 3,171,463

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR. SIDNEY Z. REHKA ATTORNEY March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKA 7 STRIPMETAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG.I3

INVENTOR. SIDNEY Z. REHKA (,5 l w I AMTTLDRNEY March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKA3,171,463

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 10 Sheets-Sheet8 X256 W267 W268 INVENTOR. SIDNEY z. REHKA ATTORNEY March 2, 1965 s. z.REHKA 3,171,463

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1962 1.0 Sheets-Sheet9 I 422 FIG. i 9 I63 I80 I64 INVENTOR. SIDNEY Z. REHKA QWLQQMM ATTORNEY'Filed March 28, 1962 March 2, 1965 s. z. REHKA 3,171,463

STRIP METAL ARTICLE MAKING MACHINE 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 20

FIGZI ATTORNEY United States Patent C 3,171,463 STRIP METAL ARTICLEMAKING MACHINE Sidney Z. Rehka, Hollywood, Calif. (418 S. CaliforniaSt., Burbank, Calif.) Filed Mar. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 183,097 11 Claims.(Cl. 153-2) This invention relates to the art of producing small partsof intricate and complex design .to close tolerances and moreparticularly to a machine for mass producing such parts.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine for massproducing small intricate parts which may ordinarily be otherwiseproduced in quantity only by a number of individual operations onseparate machines or by successive operations on the same machine withdifferent tooling for each operation; the machine of the presentinvention generally comprising a material feeding mechanism, a materialreceiving and holding mechanism, and a plurality of horizontally andvertically moving tools and operating means therefor; said tools beingclustered about said material receiving and holding mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed which employs a novel arrangement of tooling comprising agroup of detachably mounted tools for forming a particular part andwhich are operated by a complementary group of detachably mounted camsand which groups are mounted on the machine by means whereby the saidgroups can be removed from the machine and stored after completion of arun of the parts for which such groups are designed is completed and,when the next run of the same part is to be made, can be re-installedwith a minimum of setup time and yet be in precise adjustment foraccurate forming of the said parts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed which operates on a continuous length of strip-type materialor wire to automatically produce small parts of intricate shape in acontinuous operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the typedescribed employing a polygonal arrangement of cam carrying shaftspowered by a single source of power to simultaneously rotate the camswhich operate horizontally and vertically disposed tools in accordancewith a predetermined sequence of steps.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of partsdescribed, by way of example, in the following specification disclosinga presently preferred embodiment of the invention; reference being hadto the accompanying drawings which form a part of said specification, inwhich drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine constituting a presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention, showing the machine set up andready for operation;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view on an enlarged scale, partly insection of the area beneath the arrows on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken along line 2A-2A of FIGURE 2 showing details of construction ofmeans for biasing a cam follower arm toward its cam;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the portion of the machine shownin FIGURE 2 between the line 33 with certain portions being broken awayor shown in section for clearness of illustration;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary, top plan view of the portionof the machine between the arrows on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of that portion of themachine shown in FIGURE 4 between the arrows along the line 5--5;

FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken along line 5A5A of FIGURE 5 showing details of construction ofform lifter guide means;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the portion of themachine shown in FIGURE 4 between the arrows of line 66;

FIGURE 7 is a further enlarged scale, fragmentary sectional view takenalong line 77 of FIGURE 4 and showing details of the detach-ablemounting for an operating cam;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the cam mounting means as shownalong line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8A is an exploded perspective view of a cam holder and cam of apresently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail taken from the area enclosed within thecircle 9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a further enlarged, fragmentary top plan sectional viewtaken along line 1010 of FIG- URE 3;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged scale, cross-sectional view taken along line10A10A of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view on the same scaleas FIGURE 10 taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view on the same scale as FIGURE 10,taken along line 12-42 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view on the same scale as FIGURE 10 takenalong the staggered line 13-13 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 13A is a fragmentary, top plan view taken along line 13A-13A ofFIGURE 13;

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the staggered line 14-14of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 14A is a fragmentary, top plan view taken along line 14A-14A ofFIGURE 14;

FIGURE 14B is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along line14B14B of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1515 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURES 16-21 show somewhat schematically and sequentially the variouspositions of the tools during the steps employed in manufacturing aprecision part with a machine of a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of one of the elements employed inshaping the strip of material shown in FIG- URES 1621;

FIGURE 23 is a perspective view of the portion of the apparatus shown inFIGURE 20; and

FIGURE 24 is a perspective view of the finished article produced by thestructure and steps shown in'FIGURES 16-21.

Generally, the machine comprises three units mounted in proper relationon a common base; the said three units comprising a material feedingmechanism; a material receiving and holding mechanism, and horizontallyand vertically disposed, cam operated tools. These units will bedescribed separately.

As will appear in the detailed description of the illustrated embodimentof the invention, the general plan of organization of the machinecomprises a base plate on which a plurality of rotatable shafts areinterconnected for rotation in unison and are arranged in a polygonalconfiguration around a material feeding and holding instrumentality andin which the specific actuating means for the various tools includes ,.aplurality of cam devices of which at least two of said shafts carry atleast one each of said plurality of cam devices.

THE MATERIAL FEEDING MECHANISM adjacent the machine 1 on a spindle 6.The spindle 6 is supported from the machine 1 by means of a plurality ofarms 7. As best seen in FIGURE 2, stock from the spool 4. is threadedabout a guide post 8 and through aplurality of straightening rollers 9.The straightening rollers 9 are mounted adjacent the base plate 3 bymeans of a bracket. 10 which is bolted to the base plate 3 with capscrews 11. The stock 5 passes from the straightening, rollers 9 into amovable gripper mechanism 12 and, thence, into a fixed gripper mechanism 13. The movable gripper 12 is slidably mounted on a T-shaped way14 (see FIGURE 11) which is rigidly aifixed: to base 3. The gripper.12ais reciproeated on way 14 by means of a crank mechanism, indicatedgenerally at 15, which imparts a predetermined stroke to the movablegripper 12. The movable gripper 12 and the fixed gripper .13 areoperated through cams which are affixed to a common shaft and aredesigned to actuate the gripping mechanisms-in alternating sequence so;that fa;171,4es

. The end of cam 29 remote fi'om the. pivot bolt 30 is mountedsuperjacent a laterally reciprocable track 37, Roller-type cam actuators:38 and 39 are rotatably mounted on the said remote end of cam 29 onopposite sides of the. track 37. 'Lateralrrrovement of track 37 towardthe gripper 12 engages cam actuator 38 to swing the cam 29counter-clockwise, as viewed. in FIGURES 2 and 10 bringing the face 40thereof into engagement with the cam follower 26 to swing the movablejaw 24 counter-clockwise'as viewed in said figures and into engagementwith the stock 5. Lateral movement of the track 37 away fromthe gripper12v engages the actuator 39 to swing the cam 29 in the oppositedirection permitting spring 27 to correspondingly swing the jaw 24 awayfrom the stock 5 asfar' as; permitted by the engagement of the camfollower 26 with the cam face 40. The track 37 is an. integral part of aT-shaped member 41- having aleg 42 slidably mounted; in achannel 43milled in a stationary block 44 which isafiixed to baseplate 3 by meansof bolts 45. A cam'follower. 46 (FIGURE 2) is rotatably mounted in theend of the leg 42 and cooperates with a cam 47 which is rigidly affixedto a rotatable shaft 48. The cam follower 46, is biased against I cam 47by a compression spring 49 (FIGURE 2A) hav.-

when one. gripper is gripping the material, the other 7 gripperisreleased. The movable gripper 12 i tom wall 19 and a coverplate 20.The sidewall 18 in:

cludes a housing 16 having I end walls 17 and 17a, respectively, asidewall 18,- a bothousing 16 by means of av bolt 22. A longitudinalpas-1 sageway 23 extends throughthe housing 16 adjacent the sidewall 18and the, stock 5 is threaded through this passageway in contacts withthe sidewall 18 and the ,plate 21s that said plate21 serves as the fixedjawof a'vise cooperating with a movable jaw. 24 to grip the stock 5.

while the movable gripper. 12 is on its. forward stroke.

- An L-shaped bracket 24a is mountedin endwall 17a in s such a mannerthat the small arm of the bracket extends into passageway 23 at theexit. end thereof-toguide the stock 5" issuing therefrom. The a movable'jaw. 24 is ing one end bearing against aprotuberance 50'on the leg 42and its other end bearing against the endwall 51 of of a slot 5.2 milledin theblock 44 belowthe channel 43;

The periphery of the cam 47 is cut in such a manner.

that. a predetermined amount of rotation of the shaft 48 causes the camfollower 46to move the track :37 into engagementwith. the cam actuator38- closing the movable. jaw 24,onto the stock 5 just as the gripper 12is ready tostart its forward stroke and continued rotation abut the stopmember 54 and prevent over-travel of'the movable gripper 12 on itsforward stroke. The other end of the rod 53 adjacent the gripper 12carries a second set of adjusting nuts 56 which may be adjusted to abutthe stop member 54 andpreventover-travel of thegripper' 12 on itsrearward-stroke. The stop member 54 is rigidly pivotally mounted on thebottom wall 19 by means of a a bolt 25which passes through one corner ofthe jaw 24. A roller-type cam follower 26 is rotatably mounted on thecorner of jaw 24 transversely opposite bolt 25' and a compression spring27 is mounted ina recess '28 in the jaw 25 atthe end thereof oppositethe bolt25. The spring 27 reacts between the sidewall 18* and jaw 24 andbiases saidopposite .end of the movable 'j3W';24-:

away from the sidewall 18.; A cam 29 iis 'pivotally mounted by means ofa bolt 3Qon thebottomwall 19 adjacent the movable jaw 24 and is operatedthrough means to be hereinafter described'to engage the cam follower 26and swing the movable" jaw 24 into engagement with the stock 5 pressingitagainst the insertable plate 21 while the gripper 12 is on its forwardstroke. a

The cam 29 moves away from cam follower .26 permitting the spring 2 7 torelease the movable jaw 24 from the stock 5 when thegripper 12 is on itsrearward stroke.

The underside of the movable jaw 24'include's a U-shaped recess 31 inwhich a U-shaped blockl32 ismounted, 'A

bolt 33 extends through a slot '34; in the, jaw 24 and threadedlyengages th'e block 32. Acap screw 35*carries a locknut 36and'isthreadedly mounted in'the b ight portion of the U-shaped recess31--insuch'a manr ier that theend of thecap screw35 abutsthe block 32.The cap screw 35 is employed to adjust the bl'ock32 relativetol the jaw24 to;accommodate stock 5 of-various thicknesses;

aflixed totthe base plate 3 by means of bolts 57." The gripper 12 isreciprocated by means of theprevi- .ously mentioned crank mechanism 15which includes arotatable, crankdisc 58 having a diametrically extendingslot 59-which is dovetailed in cross section and in which the head60 ofa crank pin 61 is slidably mounted. The

head 60 of the crank pin 61 may beslid back and forth in the slot 59'bymeans of an adjusting screw 62 which threadedly engages the head 60an'd'which is rotatably mountedin bore The-end of-theadjusting screw .627 remote from the crank pin61 includesascrewdriver slot 64 and aknurleddisc 65 to facilitate turning the adjusting screw'f62 to move-the crankpin 61. A pitman rod 66 includes oppositely threaded halves .67 and 68'which are joined together" by means of a turnbuckle 69 and 'con- 'nectsthe gripper 12 to the-crank pin 61. One end of thezpitman'rod66 is'pivotally connected to the gripper 12 by means of a pin 70andthef-otherend of the pitman rod 66 is pivotallyqconnected tothe crankpin 61 by meansof. bushing71. ,The crank disc 58 is rigidly affixed to ashaft 72. by means of-a set screw,73'.- The shaft 72 is journalledin'bushings 74 and has a driven gear 75 keyed thereto-at its end remotefrom the crank'disc 58.

Adriving gear 76 is afiixedfto shaft 48 and drivingly engagesthe'driven'gearf75. The gears 75 and 76 may be mounted in a housing 77.The shaft -48 extends along one edge o r' thebase plate 3' and isjournalled in bearings 78,79 and 80,v respectively- The end of the shaft48 adjacent the gear 76 carriesa disc, -.81-which drivesacountingmechanism 82 through suitable linkage; it being noted that eachrevolution of the shaft 48 completes one cycle of operation of themachine 1 wherefore the counting of revolutions of the shaft 48 gives acount of the number of parts produced. A gear 83 (FIGURE 4) is rigidlyaifixed to the shaft 48 at its end remote from the disc 81 and is driventhrough means to be hereinafter described to rotate the shaft 48.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 12, the stationary gripper 13 comprises abase portion 85 which is rigidly affixed to the base plate 3 by means ofcap screws 86 and dowel pins 87, only one each of which is shown, butwhich are similar in size and location to the bolts 187 and dowel pins188 shown in FIGURE 13A. The base portion 85 has a bottom wall 88, oneupstanding endwall 89, upstanding sidewalls 90 and 91, an open top andone open end. The structure thus defined comprises a solid block ofmaterial having a U-shaped channel milled therein. The endwall 89 has acylindrical bore 92 extending therethrough. A movable jaw 93 is slidablymounted on the bottom wall 88 between the sidewalls 90 and 91 andincludes an upstanding portion 94 having a first bore 95 axially alignedwith the bore 92. A rod 96 is slidably mounted in the bores 92 and 95,but has one end rigidly affixed within the bore 95 by means of a setscrew 97 and includes a head 98 on its other end. The head 98 isdisposed outside the endwall 89. A compression spring 99 encircles therod 96 with one end bearing against the upstanding member 94 and itsother end against the endwall 89 so that the movable jaw 93 is biasedaway from the endwall 89.

The upstanding member 94 of the movable jaw 93 includes a second bore100 which is interiorly threaded to receive an adjusting screw 101having a flat head 102. A cam follower arm 103, having a roller-type camfollower 104 rotatably mounted at one end, is affixed by means of bolts105 to the movable jaw 93 in such a manner that its other end abuts thehead 102 of the adjusting screw 101. The bolt holes 106 in arm 103 areslotted so that-the arm 103 may be adjusted horizontally by means of theadjusting screw 101.

The gripper 13 is covered with a coverplate 107 having a U-shapedopening cut in one end thereof permitting the bolts 105 to move withoutobstruction when the cam follower arm 103 reciprocates. The coverplate107 may be aflixed to the gripper 13 by means of bolts 108 threadedlyengaging the sidewalls 90 and 91. The movable jaw 93 is lubricatedthrough an oiler 109 which is placed in hydraulic communicationtherewith through passageways 110 and 111. The rod 96 is lubricatedthrough an oiler 112 which is placed in hydraulic communicationtherewith through a passageway 113.

A set of shims 114 and an endplate 115 are affixed to the endwall 89 bymeans of cap screws 116. The shims 114 define a space between theendwall 89 and the endplate 115 in which the head 98 of rod 96 is freeto move and in which the stock 5 may be disposed between the head 98 andthe end plate 115 in such a manner that it will serve as a fixed jawagainst which the head 98 may force the stock 5 to grip it.

The gripper 13 is mounted on the base plate 3 with its longitudinal axislying normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 48 and with the camfollower 104 contacting a cam 117 which is rigidly afiixed to the shaft48. The spring 99 biases the cam follower 104 against the cam 117 whichis cut to a shape and is so positioned on the shaft as to coordinate itwith the cam 47 in such a manner that when the movable jaw 24 of themovable gripper 12 is open, a high spot on the cam 117 maintains thehead 98 effecting tight engagement of the stock 5 between said head andendplate 115. Conversely, when the movable jaw 24 of gripper 12 isclosed, the cam 117 will have rotated until its low spot is reachedpermitting spring 99 to move the movable jaw 93 and head 98 toward thecam 117 releasing the pressure from stock 5. The ad 6 justing screw 101absorbs the thrust between the movable jaw 93 and the cam follower arm103. Also, the rod 96 is bottomed in bore to absorb the thrust impartedto the rod 96 by end plate 115.

THE MATERIAL RECEIVING AND HOLDING MECHANISM Referring now to FIGURES 1,4-6, 13-16 and 8A, the material receiving and holding mechanismincludes, generally, a punch press unit 120, a shaped, stationary post122 (FIGURE 25) and a combination holding-forming tool mechanism 124.

The stock 5 is threaded through the movable gripper 12, the fixedgripper 13 and into the punch press unit 120. While the movable gripper12 is on its rearward stroke for more stock 5, the stock 5 already inthe machine will be held fast by the fixed gripper 13 so that operationsmay be performed upon the stock 5 by the punch press unit 120.

The punch press unit is mounted for adjustment to a desired positionalong a line parallel to the path of travel of the stock 5 thereto onbase plate 3 by means of bolts 125 which pass through longitudinallyextending slots 126 in a key 127 and base plate 3. The longitudinal axisof the punch ipress unit 120 is disposed at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 48 so that a cam follower 128 on thepunch press unit 120 is in contact with a cam 129 aflixed to the shaft48. The punch press unit 120 includes a base portion 130 havingupstanding sidewalls 131 and :a bottom wall 132 forming an open-endedchannel 133 (FIGURE 14). A tool carrying slide 134 is slidably mountedin channel 133 and includes an adjustably mounted cam follower arm 135,a male die plate 136 (FIGURE 14A) and a cut-off knife 137. The camfollower arm carries the cam follower 128 at one end and is affixed tothe slide 134 by means of screws 138 extending through slots 139 in thecam follower arm 135. The slots 139 permit limited horizontal adjustmentof the cam follower arm 135 by means of a threaded abutment screw 140which engages a threaded bore 141 in the slide 134 and includes a head142 which contacts the end of arm 135 remote from the cam follower 128to relieve the screws 138 from having to withstand the working thrust onthe slide 134. The knife 137 is adjustably mounted in a U-shaped recesson a boss 143 forming an integral part of one side wall 131 by means ofa bolt 144 and an adjusting screw 145. A female die 148 is aflixed tothe end of the punch press unit 120 adjacent the male die 136 by meansof screws 149.

The apertures 150, 150 are formed by punches 152, 152, which are seatedin the die plate 136 which, in turn, is secured to the distal end of thepunch press slide 134 with an interposed backup plate 136A by screws146, 146; said punches having heads 152a, 152a seated in complementaryrecesses in the die plate 136 and engaging said backup plate. The louvre151 is likewise formed by a similarly mounted punch element 154 whichcooperates with a complementary depression formed in the female die 148which is seated in a recess in the die holding plate 148a. The dieholding plate 148a and the interposed stripper plate 148b are secured tothe punch press base 130 by screws 149 and dowels 156, 156 hold the diesand punches in alignment.

The punches 152, 152 are sufficiently long to extend throughcomplementary holes 153, 153 in the stripper plate, the female die andthe die holding plate to provide ejection means for the portions of thematerial punched out in forming said apertures and the stripper plateretains the material strip during the retracting movement of thepunches. A coverplate 157 may be employed to maintain the slide 134 inits proper position in the channel 133 and includes a U-shaped opening158 at one end to accommodate the screws 138.

The cam follower arm 135 also includes a depending finger 159 which may.be engaged by a similar upstanding finger rocker member 161 and ispiv'otally mounted on a pin'162 for rocking movement about an axisparallel to the axis of shaft 48. The pin 162 is mounted in bosses 163forming an integral part of base plate 3. T he rocker member 161includes a cam follower 1 64, which is controlled by a cam 165 afilxedto shaft 48 adjacent the-cam 129. The rocker member 161 is fixed inposition on pin 162 relative to the cam 165 by means of spacers 166which the rockermernber 161 along the pin 162. The high spot of cam 12 9first contacts the cam follower 128 on the cam follower arm 135 andmoves the slide 134 and the tools. carried thereby toward the stock andfemale die 148 to punch the two apertures i150 and the louvre 151 and tosever the stock 5. As the cams 129 and 165 continue theirrevolution,-the high spot on cam 165 engages the cam follower 164 on therocker member 161 causing the upstanding direction, as viewed in FIGURE14, and engage the depending finger 159 to return the slide 134 to itsinactive 160. The finger160 is formed integrally with a I finger 160 tomove in a counterclockwise may be rearranged in any suitable'manner tore-position position. By the time the punch press unit has completedthis operation, the movable gripper 12 will be ready to start its nextforward stroke to bring new stock into the punch press unit 120 and pushthe preceding portion of stock whichhas been severed as a step inthe'formation of a part 167, into the next portion of the mate- I rialreceiving and holding mechanism. The part 167 will arrive at the' nextportion of .the material receiving and holding mechanism with the twoapertures and the louvre 151 punched therein and is there held inposition by the shaped, stationary post 122 and the holding-fornu f ingtool mechanism. 124;

Referring now to FIGURES l, 4 6, 16-20 and 2 5 a. U-shaped bracket 170includes horizontal arms 1 71 and a bight portion 172- and has a plate173 rigidly aifixed to each arm.171., The bracket 170 is mounted abovethe base plate 3 on blocks 174 (FIGURE 1) which are rigidly aflixed,thereto. A key 175 is mounted in suitable slots in each plate 173 andeach block174. The keys 1 75 cooperate with a plurality of cap screws176 to maintain the br-acket 170 in a position which is parallel to thetransverse axis of the base plate 3. The bracket 170 may be adjusted inthe plane of the top surface of the base plate and with respect to thelongitudinal axis.

of the'base pl ate'3 by loosening screws 176 and turning adjustingscrews 177 which are mounted in brackets 178;

and bear against blocks 174. The post 122 is'mounted pression spring192. A camfollower arm 193 includes a T-shaped base 194 which isslidably received in the ways 190a, 190a and includes a roller-type camfollower 195 rotatably mounted at one end of said arm, a tool holder 196adjustably mounted at its opposite end and a stop-pin 197depending'into'the spring receiving slot 189. The compression spring192,.which is mounted in the slot 189, reacts against the pin, 197 tobias the cam follower arm 193' toward the shaft 48. The tool holder I196 is secured to the cam follower arm .193 by means of a bolt 199 whichextends through a slot 200 in the tool holder 196 and threadedlyfengagesthe cam follower arm-193. The cam follower arm 193 also includes anupstanding boss 201 having an internally threaded bore 202 which carriesa set screw 203 which, in turn; is

a locked against the toolholder 196 by means of a lock nut ,204. Thesetscrew 203 is employed to provide a longitudinally, adaptable abutmentfor the tool holder 196 ef re is 1 secured by the bolt 199. to,ol'205 isrigidly affixed'to the tool holder 196 by means of 'a bolt 206 as shown,and; in addition to theram 185, ihclndes a pair of sl1aped, sidefonrning members 207 andf208, respectively, (FIGURES l 6- 19), and alower-levelshaping tool 209 having a" bifurcated end 210 (FIGURE 21).The holding-forming tool mechanism'124 is operated through a cam 21 1forming a component part of a cam device .211 which is rigidly mountedon the shaft 48; said'device to be hereinafter described in detail. Thetool unit124 is mounted on the, base plate 3 in sucha manner that theroller-type, cam follower 195 is in contactwith the cam 2 11. The cam211 is, so shaped that rotation of it, against'carn follower 195 willforce the cam follower arm 193 to the right, as viewed in FIG- URE- l3,forcinggthe ram 185 into contact withthe part 167 before the members 207and 208; contact the part 167; The ram 185 forces' th'e part 167 into asuitably shaped recess; in the mid-portion rofjthe' post 122'. Furtherrotatiion of the cam. 2.11 brings the shaped members 207 and"20 8 of thetool 205 into contact with the part Referring to. FIGURES 16-19, thetool 205 is viewed 5 somewhat schematically in plan as comprising theram in a slot in the bightv portion 172 of bracket: 170 by means ofcapscrews 179 (FIGURE 5A), r

The upper portion of the post 12.;2has the transverse,

cross-sectional shape shown. in FIGURE 5A;its midpor tion the shapeshown in FIGURE 16; and its lower por-' tion the shape shown in FIGURE20. The lower. portion of the post 122 includes, a dependingprotuberance 180 which is surrounded bya shoe l81having au-shapedopening 182 and dished portions 183 and 184. The part 167 is forcedagainst the upper portion'of post 122 by a ram 185'constituting oneelement of the holding-forming toolrnechanism 124;

/ Referring now t FIGURES 4, 13, 13A and 15521,-

the holding-forming tool unit 124comprises an elongated base member-186attached to thebase plate 3 offrnachine 5 -1 at right angles to theshaft 48 ,by means of screws, 187 and dowel pins 188. The base member186 is pro-- vided with a slot 189'on the upper surface extendingv fromend to end thereof and the upper surface of said base;

member. 186 carries plates 190, 190'fixed thereto by screws 191'; saidplates overhanging the sides of said slot to form ways 190a, 190a for apurpose to which ref; erence willpresently be made. The bottom portionof said slot is closed at each end for-reception of a com 1185 which isurg d forwar ly beyond e a ed Sideforming members 207 and 2 08 by meansof a'compression spring 212 which permits the ;ra rn 185'to hold thepart167 against the post 122 eventhough the earn 211 is on its waytowards its low spot and the compression spring 212;h as returned thecamfollower arm 193, enough 7 to bring the side-forming, members 207-and 208jout' of contact with post" 122; I

Referring to FIGURES 7-9, the scam device 211," is typicaloffall of thecam devices employed in the presently preferredembodirnent of theinvention and includesa cam holder 21-5 on which the cam 211is.detachably.mounted by means ofscrews2 l6. The cam holder 2-15includesJ a hub 217 and a gauge 218. w hich is marked off indegrees.

An adaptor unit 219. has an arcuate recess adapted to partiallyencirclethe hub'2'17- and is attached; to the cam holder 215, by means'of acapscrew 220; The adaptor unit 219' also hasparallel sides .and. a cam face221; The cam 211 has'a .U-shapedopening .2221which.en-gages 'theparallel sides of theffadaptor unit. 219=with close .tolerance. The camface'221 constitutes the low spot for thewcam, 211 and the two parts aremachined'with precision to fitv ;tightly together,,so that a' continuoussurface is formedby their peripheries. ,The inner Wall of the hub .217,includes keyways 223"in wh ich keys 224 are mounted." The hub 217 may belocked to the shaft 48hr h e ng t e k y 4W m ans. su table set screws.225; ii 'Th fcalm. holdergzfi; may be; permanently mounted ongthe'shaftfis andf once-the cam 21f1 is ad-' justed along vvith the holdingforrning toolrnechanism124 to performthe steps shown in FIGURES 16-19;the set screws 225"may be tightened' to lock the hub 217 to the V 9shaft 48. The shaft 48 is scribed with a longitudinal datum line 226which will be aligned with one of the degree markings on the gauge 218.The degree marking may then be stamped on the side of the cam 211. Afterthe required quantity of the items shown in FIGURE 24 have beenproduced, the cam 211 may be removed leaving the cam holder 215 andadaptor unit 219 on the shaft 48 where they may be used with a differentcam. 'Ihe cam 211 may then be stored together with the tool 205. Thenext time the same parts are to be made, it is a simple matter to affixthe tool 205 to the tool holder mechanism 124, mount the cam 211 on thecam holder 215, note the degree marking stamped on the cam 211, rotatethe cam holder 215 until the noted degree marking is aligned with thedatum line 226 and tighten set screws 225 to lock the cam holder 215 tothe shaft 48. Thus, the machine 1 may be readily tooled for a subsequentrunning of a specified part. This is an important feature of theinvention. Once the cam 211 and the tool 205 have been laboriouslytooled and adjusted for a particular job, the machine 1 need not bepermanently devoted to producing parts for that job, but can beeconomically stripped at the end of a run and re-tooled for a subsequentrun of some other part with different tooling and earns. It will benoted in FIGURE 4 that the shaft 48 is but one of four shafts forming aquadrangle about the work holding and receiving units with a datum line226 scribed on each shaft. The tool units described above in detail andthe horizontally and vertically disposed tools to be hereinafterdescribed are all operated with precision from cams mounted on thesefour shafts. The cam holders 215 are the same for all shafts and may berotated to any position about the shaft or slide longitudinally alongthe shaft and then secured in position by tightening set screws 225.This feature of the invention permits directing a tool, such as a toolcamrned by tool unit 124, into the Work receiving and holding centerfrom any angle as long as its cam follower can make contact with itsassociated cam. The term cam device as hereinafter employed in thespecification and claims will be understood to embody the same generalprinciples of construction as the specifically described cam device211'.

THE HORIZONTALLY AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED TOOL UNITS Referring now toFIGURES 4 and 16-18, a first set of horizontally disposed tool units 230and 231 is designed to operate off of cam devices 232 and 233,respectively. The cam devices 232 and 233 are afiixed to shafts 234 and235, respectively, which are scribed with the datum line 226 and arerotatably mounted at opposite sides of the work holding and receivingcenter. The tool units 230 and 231 have the basic construction of thetool unit .124 described in detail in connection with FIGURE 13;however, the shaped tools 236 and 237, which are attached to toolholders 238 and 239 (FIGURE 4) have the general shape shownschematically in FIGURES 16-18 and are arranged in such a manner that,with the side forming members 207 and 208 of the tool 205 still in.position, the tips of the tools 236 and 237 can force the part 167about the shaped Wings 240 and 241 forming a part of the intermediateportion of the post 122. As the cam devices 211, 232 and 233 continue torotate, the

- members 207 and 208 of tool 205 and the shaped tools 236 and 237 willretract together leaving the ram 185 in position holding the part 167against the post 122. The tool units 230 and 231 do not lie at rightangles to their respective shafts and therefore, the faces of the cams232 and 233 are cut on a suitable angle to assure uniform contact of thecam followers of tool units 230 and 231 therewith.

Referring now to FIGURES 4-6, 18-19 and 22, cam operated, verticallydisposed tool units comprising form lifters 245 and 246 move verticallydownwardly into posiam ss 10 tion in the space vacated by the shapedtools 236 and 237 to serve as a foundation about which the part 167 maybe formed by other tools. The form lifters 245 and 246 have the shapeshown in FIGURE 22 and are rigidly afiixed to the lower ends of rods 247and 248 respectively. The rods 247 and 248 are disposed in notches cutin the front corners of post 122 (FIGURE 5A) and are maintained thereinby means of a plate 249 which is secured to the bight portion 172 .ofthe bracket 170 by means of cap screws 250. The rods 247 and 248 aremoved up and down by means of a set of rocker arms 252 and 253 and camdevices 254 and 255, respectively. The cam devices 254 and 255 aremounted on a shaft 256 which is scribed with the datum line 226 and isrotatably mounted along the side of the machine 1 opposite the shaft 48.The rocker arms 257 and 253 are aflixed to tubular sleeves 256 and 258which are mounted to oscillate on a rod 259 which, in turn, is mountedin sleeves 260 and 261. The sleeves 260 and 261 are rigidly aflixed tothe arms 171 of bracket 170 and the rod 259 is prevented from rotatingby means of set screws 262. The rocker arms are operated through the camdevices 254 and 255 to impart vertical reciprocation to the rods 247 and248, through means to be hereinafter described.

While the form lifters 245 and 246 are still in position, a pair ofhorizontally mounted tool units 265 and 266 having shaped tools 267 and268, respectively (FIG- URES 16-19) which are operated by cam devices269 and 269a and which straddle the post 122, are operative to bend thepart 167 about the form lifters 245 and 246. The shaped tools 267 and268 remain in position while a pair of horizontally disposed, camoperated tool units 270 and 271 having the shaped tools 272 and 273,shown schematically in FIGURES 16-19, are moved by their cam devices 274and 275, respectively, into position to bend the tips of the part 167about the form lifters 245 and 246. The various cam devices aresynchronized with the ram 185, the horizontally mounted tool units 265,266, 270 and 271 and the form lifters 245 and 246 to simultaneouslyreturn to their original positions.

A further tool unit comprising a stripper 280, shown in perspective inFIGURE 23 and schematically in FIG- URE 20 is moved verticallydownwardly to push the part 167 from its intermediate level on post 122to its lower level thereon where it is held in position relative to theprotuberance by dished portions 183 and 184. Referring to FIGURES 4-6,the stripper 280 is mounted on a rod 281 and is operated by a cam device282 and a rocker arm 283 in substantially the same manner as the formlifters 245 and 246. The rod 281 is received in a notch cut in the plate249 and is maintained in position therein by the post 122.

The rods 247, 248 and 281 are reciprocated by their respective rockerarms through a systemincluding links 285, 286, and 287, respectively,which have one end connected to the upper end of each rod by means ofpins 288, 289 and 290, respectively. The links 285, 286 and 287 haveapertures at their other ends which encompass the upstanding rods 291,297 and 293, respectively. The rods 291, 292 and 293 are slidablymounted in suitable bores in the bracket 170 and include lands 294, 295and 296, respectively, upon which the apertured ends of the links bear.A nut 297 serves to tighten each link against its land. Compressionsprings 298, 299 and 300, respectively, encompass the upstanding rods291, 292, and 293 below their lands and exert a force between the landsand the bracket 170 to bias the upper ends of the upstanding rodsagainst adjusting screws 305, 306 and 307 which threadedly engage theends of rocker arms 252, 253 and 283, respectively.

The various cam devices and toolsare coordinated in such a manner that afirst part 167 will be in position on the depending protuberance 180 atthe lower level of post 122 at the same time another part 167 is inposition on the post 122 at its intermediate level so that one stroke ofthe tool 205 will perform its operations at the intermediate levelthrough ram 185 and the side-forming members 207' and 208,while thebifurcated portion 210 of the tool' 205 bends another part 167 about theprotuberance 180. v The bifurcatedporti'on 210 of the tool 205 isretractedsimultaneously with the ram 185' andthe finished part 167 dropsfrom the depending protuberance 180 through the opening 182 in shoe 181.V V

The shaft 2 3,4. is a powered shaft and supplies power to'the shafts256, 235 and 48. The shaft 234 is rotatably mounted in bearings. 310'and 311 and has a driving gear 312 and a sprocket 313 rigidly attachedthereto. The sprocket 313 is drivingly connected to a motor 314 by meansof a chain 315. The driving gear 312 engages a driven gear 318 which isrigidly aflixed to shaft 256 to drive same. The shaft. 256v also carriesa driving gear 320- which meshes in driving engagement with a drivengear 322 which is rigidly affixed to the, shaft 235. The shaft- 235 alsocarries a driving gear 324 which meshes in driving engagement with thedriven gear 83 on shaft 48. A fiywheel 326 is rigidly 'affixed to oneend of the shaft 235. The shaft 256' is mounted in bearings 328 and 330and the shaft 235 is mounted in bearings 332 and 334; The motor 314' iscontrolled through stop-start switches 336 mounted on the front ofcabinet 2. A switch 338 is also mounted on the cabinet 2 to controloperation of a'lamp 339 which is mounted on bracket 170.

OPERATION OF THE MACHINE Assuming that the machine 1 is to be set up toproduce the parts shown in FIGURE 24, and bearing in mind that theshafts 48, 234, 235, and 256 rotate continuously during operation-ofthemachine, the various cam devices 'will be designed toimpart the properstroke to their respective tools upon each complete" revolution of theshafts. The carncomponents' of the cam devices 211', 232,233, 269, 274;and 275 will be atfiXed to-their rewill move the. ram 185 into contactwith the part 167 forcing it'into the, recess in the post 122.v The part167' will befirmly held while the knife 134 is making 7 its cut,:the cam211, will have advanced far enough to bring theside forming members 207,and 208 into en,- gagement with the part 167' forcing it about the post122 and; the Wings 240 and 241. The cam 129 driving the 'punch'pressunit 120; and the cam 211 driving the formingtool mechanism 124 will nowbe moving to their low spots. I This permits the side forming tools 207and 208 'to withdraw from engagement with the part 167 while thecompression spring 212-maintainsthe ram 185 in engagement therewith.However, before the low spot is reachedyand while the side formingtools, 207 and 208- are still in engagement with, the part 167, thecamdevices 232and 233'operating tools 236 and 237,respectively,*will*have moved these tools into position forcing the part167 behind the wings 240 and 241. The tools 2-36 and 237' will bewithdrawn simultaneously with the knife 137 and side forming tools 207and 208.

1 B y the time these tools have withdrawn, the form lifters spective camholders andthe cam-holders will be loosely.

mounted on their respective shafts so that they maybe adjusted beforelocking them to the shaft with their respective-set screws. 'The stock 5may then be fed through the movable gripper 12, the fixed gripper 13,

the punch press 120 and past the post 122. The; crank mechanism IS-may"then be adjusted so that the movable. gripper 12 will feed just enoughstock 5 for one part 1.67 each time the gripper 12 makes a forwardstroke. The stop nuts and56-may be adjusted to prevent'overtravel of themovable gripper 12 and the cam 47 maybe adjusted insuch a manner thatits high spot will'bein contact with the cam follower 46- forcing themovable jawa24 againstthe' stock 5 through the T-shaped member 41, earn29 and movable jaw 24 just as the'movable gripper 12 is'aboutv tocommence its forward stroke. The cam 47;, of course will be designed sothat its low spot will bein contact with the. cam follower 46perthreepieces. ofmaterial simultaneously.

245 and 246 will have moved downwardly, into position filling thespaceleft by the tools 236 and 237. The cam devices 269 and 26911 thenmove tools 267- and 268' in toward post'122 While-the form lifters are,still in position and shapes the part 167 therearound. Before the tools267uand'268 retract, the tools 272 and 273 move in to crimp the outerends of the part '167 about the form lifters 245 and 246.

The form lifters 245 and 24 6;[the ram- 185; and the tools 267, 268, 272and 273 will then retract simultaneously leaving-the part 167 on thepost 122. The stripper 280' then moves down vertically and pushes'thepart 167 from the upper portion ofthe post down to the-protuberahcelSO.The part 167 is maintained in a proper position relativetotheprotuberance 180 by the dished portions 183 and 184-. As theholding-forming tool mechanism 124 makes its next stroke, its bifurcatedportion 210-will contact the-part167 and bendit about 40 theprotuberance 180 imparting'the final shape to the part 167. The machine1 actually performs work on The punch press unit 120 performs itsoperations on the stock 5 mitting therspring 49 to withdraw the cam 29from contact with the movable-jaw cam follower 26 thereby permitting'the -spring;27 on movable jaw 24 tomove it away from the stock 5" justas themovable gripper: 12

is-about to'startits rearward stroke. The cam 117 which operates thefixed gripper 1-3 will be adjusted so that the fixed gripper 13willbegripping, the stock1 5 when before it is cut to length. while a first.part 167 is being formed about the intermediate portion=of post 122 anda second part 167Tis being bent about the protuberance 180 at. the lowerlevel ofpost 122.

The tool 205 forming apart of the holding-forming tool mechanism 124'hasa first increment oftravel equalling 0.250- inch which-is enough to seatthe ram 185 into 'therecess on post 122 and bring the sideforming tools207*and 208 into contact with the part 167. As soon as. the part 167. issevered by the cut-off tool 137, the

side forming tools 207 and 208- will start bending the part 167 aboutthe wings 240; and 241. 'This is accomplished by having the cam 211force the tool 205. to travelnan additional 0.350 'inch after the ram185: has seated'in the recess in the post 122'. The spring 212 permitsthe-side: forming tools 207 and 208 tfo travel this .additionaldistancerelative to the .ram- 185. It is during thiss'econd incrementof travelof the side form- "ing' tools 207 and 208 that the bifurcated member 210the: movablegripper; 121 is on its rearward stroke for more I i V thelower level of post- 122'; I The tools- 236 and 237 stock 5. The cam 129which, controls operation of the punch press unit will, be adjusted .sothat the punch press unit 120.completes; one'forward stroke during. theinterval that the; stock 5 is being gripped by the fixed gripper 13.During itsrforward stroke, the punchfpress unit'120 punches the twoapertures and the louvre 151 and severs the stock 5 adjacent thepost-122; The

next forward stroke of the movable gripper 12 will-move the stock 5*fromthe punch press into position on the post 122.. Then as the'movablefgripper 12 ison a reperforms its operation; upon the part1167-disposed at travel'atotal' distance of 1.125 inches-and their cams arede signed: accordingly. As the bending operations continue,'the sideforming tools-207 and208 travel back I 0.350 inch. Tools? 267* and 268have atotal travel of 0.812 inch: and the tools 272 and 273 travel-Q1875inch.

: While the specification discloses a. presently preferred .fo'r'rnofigthe'inve ntio'n,it"is not to be inferred there'- from that theinvention is limited to the exact form .thereof. above disclosed by. wayof example, and it will boundrstoodthat the invention embraces all suchchangesand modifications in the parts, and in the con- 13 struction,combination of parts as shall 'come within the purview of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for producing parts of intricate configuration from acontinuous strip of material, the combination of: a base plate, amaterial receiving and holding means mounted on said base plate, aplurality of shafts connected for rotation in unison mounted in bearingson said base plate and disposed in a polygonal configuration about saidmaterial receiving and holding means, means for connecting one of saidshafts to a power source for rotating said shafts, a plurality of camdevices mounted .on said shafts for rotation therewith and including atleast two of said cam devices mounted one each on each of two of saidshafts and separately associated operatively .with an equal number ofreciprocable, tool units mounted .on a surface of said base plate andinterposed between the associated cam device and said material receivingand holding means; each of said tool units including a base member, areciprocable slide mounted on and guided by said base member, a camfollower portion at one end of said slide having operative engagementwith the cam face of the associated one of said cam devices, yieldablemeans housed within the tool unit and maintaining said cam followerportion of said slide in engagement with the cam surface of theassociated one of said cam devices, and a material shaping tool rigidlyfixed to the opposite end of said slide; said tool units being soarranged on said base plate that said material shaping tools cooperatewith complementary portions of said material receiving and holding meansto impart a predetermined configuration ;to a predetermined length ofthe strip of material; the slide of at least one of said tool unitsbeing disposed for reciprocable action in a line disposed at an acuteangle to the axial lineof the one of said shafts carrying the operatingcam device for said one tool unit.

2. Ina machine for producing parts of intricate configuration from acontinuous strip of material, the combination of: a base plate, amaterial receiving and holding means mounted on said base plate, aplurality of shafts connected for rotation in unison mounted in bearingson I said base plate and disposed in a polygonal configuration aboutsaid material receiving and'holding means, means "for connecting one ofsaid shafts to a power source for rotating said shafts, a plurality ofcam devices mounted on said shafts for rotation therewith and includingat least I two of said cam devices mounted one each on each of two ofsaid shafts and associated operatively with an equal number ofreciprocable tool units mounted on a surface of said base plate andinterposed between the associated cam device and said material receivingand holding means;

each of said tool units including a base member, a reciprocable slidemounted on and guided by said base member, a

vcam follower portion at one end of said slide having operativeengagement with the cam face of the associated one ,of said cam devices,yieldable means housed within the ,tool unit and maintaining said camfollower portion of said slide in engagement withthe actuating cam faceof }the associatedcam device, and a material shaping tool ,rigidly fixedto the opposite end of said slide; said tool .units being so arranged onsaid base plate that said material shaping tools cooperate with saidmaterial receiving and holding means toimpart a predeterminedconfiguration to a predetermined length of the strip of material;

the slide of at least one of said tool units being disposed forreciprocation in a plane parallel to the surface of said base plateon-which said one tool unit is mounted and in which the slide of anotherof said tool units is disposed "for reciprocation in a plane normal tosaid plane of said base plate, and in which a rocker arm is interposedbe- .tweenthe. slide component of said other of said tool units and theoperating cam means therefor and in which a supporting bracket for saidrocker arm is mounted on a surface of said base plate for adjustment ina plane parallel 14 to the plane of the surface of said base plate onwhich said bracket means is mounted.

3. In a machine for producing parts of intricate configuration from acontinuous strip of material, the combination of: a base plate, amaterial receiving and holding means mounted on said base plate, aplurality of shafts two of said shafts and associated operatively withan equal number of reciprocable tool units mounted on a surface of saidbase plate and interposed between the associated cam device and saidmaterial receiving and holding means; each of said tool units includinga base member, a reciprocable slide mounted on and guided by said basemember, a cam follower portion at one end of said slide having operativeengagement with the cam face of .the associated one of said cam devices,yieldable means housed within the tool unit and maintaining said camfollower portion of said slide in engagement with the actuating cam faceof the associated cam device, and a ma- ,terial shaping tool rigidlyfixed to the opposite end of said slide; said tool units being soarranged on said base plate that said material shaping tools cooperatewith said material receiving and holding means to impart a predeterminedconfiguration to a predetermined length of the strip of material; eachof said shafts being provided with a longitudinally extending datum lineand in which a component of each of said cam devices carry indicia meansregistrable with said datum line for determining the rotative positionof each cam on each of said shafts incident to adapting the machine forproduction of different parts from strip material.

4. In a machine for producing parts of intricate configuration from acontinuous strip of material, the combination of: a base plate, amaterial receiving and holding means mounted on said base plate, aplurality of shafts connected for rotation in unison mounted in hearingson said base plate and disposed in a polygonal configuration about saidmaterial receiving and holding means, means for connecting one of saidshafts to a power source for rotating said shafts, a plurality of camdevices mounted on said shafts for rotation therewith and including atleast two of said cam devices mounted one each on each of two of saidshafts and associated operatively with an equal number of reciprocabletool units mounted on a surface of said base plate and interposedbetween the associated cam device and said material receiving andholding means; each of said tool units including a base member,

a reciprocable slide mounted on and guided by said base member, a camfollower portion at one end of said slide having operative engagementwith the cam face of the associated one of said cam devices, yieldablemeans housed within the tool unit and maintaining said cam followerportion of said slide in engagement with the actuating cam face of theassociated cam device, a material shaping tool rigidly fixed to theopposite end of said slide; said tool units being so arranged on saidbase plate that said material shaping tools cooperate with said materialreceiving and holding means to impart a predetermined configuration to apredetermined length of the strip of material,

reciprocable devices for delivering thestrip material to said materialreceiving and holding means in predetermined lengths at predeterminedtime intervals, other means operating in synchronism with said materialdelivering means operative to-sever the strip material into saidpredetermined lengths, an adjustable means for determining thelongitudinal position at which said predetermined lengths of the stripmaterial are delivered; said devices for delivering the strip materialto said material receiving and holding means including a reciprocablemember movable adjacent and parallel to the path of travel of thematerial strip toward, said material receiving and holding means,

actuating means for reciprocating said member including a rotatableshaft, driven by one of said cam device carrying-shafts, and in whichsaid one of said shafts additionally actuates a member reciprocable withsaid first named with the cam face' of the associated oneof said camdevices, yieldable meanshoused within the tool' unit and member anddisposed at the opposite side'of the material 1 strip from said firstnamed member in timedrelation with the reciprocations' of said membersto causefsaid second member to grip the material strip against saidfirstnamed and holding means.

5. In a machine forproducingparts of intricate configuration from acontinuous strip of material, the combination of: a base plate, amaterial receiving and holding.

means mounted on said base plate, a plurality of shafts connected forrotation in unison mounted in hearings on said base plate anddisposedin-a polygonalconfiguration about said material receiving and'holdingmeans, means for connecting one of said shafts to a power source forrotating said shafts, a plurality of cam devices mounted.

on said shaftsforrotation therewith and including at' least twoof saidcam devices mounted one each on each of two 'of said shafts andassociated operatively' with an equal number of reciprocable tool unitsmounted on a surface of said base plate and interposed between theassociated cam device and said material receiving and holding'means;each of said tool units including a base member, a reciprocable slidemounted on and; guided by said base member, a cam follower portion atone end of said slide having rigidly fixed to the opposite end of said.slide; said tool operative engagement with'the cam face of theassociated one of said cam devices, yieldable means housed within unitsbeing so arranged on said base plate that said ma- 1 terial' shapingtools cooperate with said material receiving and. holding means toimpart a predetermined configuration to a predetermined length of'thestrip of material;

'each of, said shaftsbeing' providedlwith a longitudinally extendingdatum line and a component of each of said cam devices being providedwith indicia variably" registrable with said datum' line for determiningthe rotative position of each. cam device on each of said shaftsincident to adapting the machine for'production of different parts fromstrip material, and in which: each of said device comprises a two-piececamcqmponentdetachably mounted on the end face of a hub componentcarried by the shaft with which that cam device is associated and inwhich said indiciameans' registrable with the datum line of that shaftis carried by the said hub component where by differently shaped camsmay be interchangeably mounted oneach of the hub components for theproducv tion of parts of different configuration.

6. In a. machine for producing parts of intricate configuration from acontinuousstrip of material thecommaintaining said cam followerportionof said' slide in engagement with the actuating cam face of theassociated cam device, and a material shaping tool-rigidly fixed: to theopposite end of said slide; said tool units being so arranged on saidbase plate that said material shaping tools cooperate with said materialreceiving and holding means to impart a predetermined configuration to apredetermined length of the strippf material, said toolunits includes areciprocable'tool slide, a first cam on the associated one of saidv camcarrying shafts and devices operated thereby for-movingsaid tool slidetoward the material, a second cam on said shaft and devices actuated bysaid second cam operative to positively move said tool slide'in' theopposite direction.

7. A machine for precision shaping of parts from predetermined. lengthsof strip material; said machine comprisingin combination,- abasepl-ate,,a material receiving and supporting post mounted on saidbase plate, a plurality of' shafts' connected for'rotation insynchronism mounted in bearings and disposed in a'planespaced from andparallel to a surface of said base plate and in a polygonalconfiguration about said post, a plurality ofcam devices mounted on'said shafts for rotation therewith and including at least one ofsaid camdevices, mounted on' one of. said shafts and another of' said camdevices mounted on another of said shafts, a plurality'ofmaterialshaping and forming tool units mounted on a surface ofsaid base plateand associated: one each with each of" said cam. devices, said unitsbeing disposed between: the operating cam and shaft associatedtherewith'and said post and each of said" units including a'tool element:operable in! cooperation with 'a complementary" surface of said post toimpart a predetermined portion of the shape of the part to a strip" ofmaterial interposed therebetween, means for rotating said shafts withresultant into 'said'. predetermined lengths;

8. A machine as' claimedin claim 7"in" which said means for feeding thematerial strip toward said p'jost includes a reciprocabl'e 'membermovable in" a path adjacent. and parallel :to the path of travel of the.material strip toward said post, a shaft ioper'atively connected to saidplurality offsha'fts and devices actuated by said last named shaft forreciprocating said member, at second 7 :member reciprocablewith saidfirst member andldisp'o'sed bination of; a base plate, a materialreceiving and hold- 7 ing means mounted on said base plate, a pluralityof shafts connected for rotation in unison mountedin bearings on saidbase plate and disposed in a polygonal con- "figuration about saidmaterial receiving and holding means,

means for connecting one of said shafts to' a power source I forrotating said shafts, a plurality of cam devices mounted on said" shaftsfor rotation therewith and including at least two of said cam devicesmounted one each on each of two of said. shafts and associatedoperatively. withan equal number of reciprocable tool units mounted on-'a surface of said base platefandinterpbsed between the associated camdevice and said material receiving and holding means; each of saidftoolunits includingia base membena'reciprocable slide mounted on, and guidedby saidjbase member, acam follower portion at'one endof' saidislidehaving operativeiengagement "plane parallel 'said 1 post.

at the opposite-side of 'the materi al strip from said" first member,means carried by one of said shafts effective to. cause said secondmember to grip the material strip against" said first, memhef'only whilesa'id members are moving toward} said predetermined length of; materialtoward said pos'tand anothercam operated device effective to grip themateriali'st rip and;hold it against" movement when saidmemberormovi'ngi away from said post.

91 A machine as claimed in claim 7"inc ludingfa punch press mechanismmounted on said-base plate and o'perated 'by "one of l'said shaft's;said punch" press mechanism being interposed between said material}feeding means and said post and including means operativeto sever thestrip material into said predetermined lengths;

101A machine as claimed-n claim-7 in" which said post ismounted onbracket'means overhanging said base plate and in which said bracket;means isgadjustable- -in a to the surfaceof,.said baseplate :beneath 7IL'A machine-as cl'aimed in-claim .7 in which the; tool 0stwith'resultant delivery of a 1 7 l 8 Components of certain of said toolunits reciprocate in 355,304 1/87 Dow 153-34 planes parallel to thesurface of said base plate on which 651,828 6/00 Copland 74568 said toolunits are mounted and in which at least one 992,890 5/11 Lewis 15333other of said tool units is mounted for reciprocation in 1,426,165 8/22Evans. a line normal to said plane of said base plate. 1,586,627 6/26Kominsky 15334 1,640,996 8/27 Hoff 74568 References Qited by theExaminer 1 333,513 9 31 Bottom 153 34 UNITED STATES A N 2,839,948 12/52Paul 74-568 197,357 11/77 Hale 153- 261,977 8/82 Adt 153 34 10 CHARLESW. LANHAM, Przmary Exammer.

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PRODUCING PARTS OF INTRICATE CONFIGURATION FROM ACONTINUOUS STRIP OF MATERIAL, THE COMBINATION OF: A BASE PLATE, AMATERIAL RECEIVING AND HOLDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE PLATE, APLURALITY OF SHAFTS CONNECTED FOR ROTATION IN UNISON MOUNTED IN BEARINGSON SAID BASE PLATE AND DISPOSED IN A POLYGONAL CONFIGURATION ABOUT SAIDMATERIAL RECEIVING AND HOLDING MEANS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING ONE OF SAIDSHAFTS TO A POWER SOURCE FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFTS, A PLURALITY OF CAMDEVICES MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFTS FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND INCLUDING ATLEAST TWO OF SAID CAM DEVICES MOUNTED ONE EACH ON EACH OF TWO OF SAIDSHAFTS AND SEPARATELY ASSOCIATED OPERATIVELY WITH AN EQUAL NUMBER OFRECIPROCABLE, TOOL UNITS MOUNTED ON A SURFACE OF SAID BASE PLATE ANDINTERPOSED BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATED CAM DEVICE AND SAID MATERIAL RECEIVINGAND HOLDING MEANS; EACH OF SAID TOOL UNITS INCLUDING A BASE MEMBER, ARECIPROCABLE SLIDE MOUNTED ON AND GUIDED BY SAID BASE MEMBER, A CAMFOLLOWER PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID SLIDE HAVING OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENTWITH THE CAM FACE OF THE ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID CAM DEVICES, YIELDABLEMEANS HOUSED WITHIN THE TOOL UNIT AND MAINTAINING SAID CAM FOLLOWERPORTION OF SAID SLIDE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CAM SURFACE OF THEASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID CAM DEVICES, AND A MATERIAL SHAPING TOOL RIGIDLYFIXED TO THE OPPOISTE END OF SAID SLIDE; SAID TOOL UNITS BEING SOARRANGED ON SAID BASE PLATE THAT SAID MATERIAL SHAPING TOOLS COOPERATEWITH COMPLEMENTARY PORTIONS OF SAID MATERIAL RECEIVING AND HOLDING MEANSTO IMPART A PREDETERMINED CONFIGURATION TO A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF THESTRIP OF MATERIAL; THE SLIDE OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TOOL UNITS BEINGDISPOSED FOR RECIPROCABLE ACTION IN A LINE DISPOSED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TOTHE AXIAL LINE OF THE ONE OF SAID SHAFTS CARRYING THE OPERATING CAMDEVICE FOR SAID ONE TOOL UNIT.